The Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1883. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1055, 4 July 1883, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1883. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Pressure upon our space compels us to hold over a quantity of matter, including several letters.'

Owing to a very unfortunate accident yesterday to Mr Willmott’s Combination Company,, the performance announced to be given in the Harmonic Hall last night by the above talented company was unavoidably postponed until this evening. It appears that the company were on their; way from Hawera yesterday afternoon, and one of the vehicles was capsized in coming down the Manutahi hill. Serious; injuries and disfiigurements were sustained by some of the occupants of the trap, and on arrival in town the services of both medical gentlemen were called into requisition. The accident is likely to form the cause for legal proceedings as it is said to be the result dt carelessness. Be that as it may, Mr Willmott will experience con-; siderablej inconvenience and loss from the : delay, and. several of his company are i sufferers in another and more painful way. It has been found necessary to substitute “ Struck Oil ” for J“ Ixiori ” this evening and the cast will be found elsewhere.We hope to see a full house as a compensation to the misfortunes which the company have met with while endeavouring to keep their engagement here.

With reference to Mr A. Wood’s claim for compensatibn from the' Borough Council! for damage sustaihed ,to,liiß property by storm water from theinewiy-’ formed streets, it was decided on Monday' evening,' to/ offer iMr W6od the sura of £2O. ?; , We have to express our acknowledgements; to the telegraph department here, for the: dispatch and accuracy with which the Public Works Statement was received andhauded to us. What' it costs to disobey the summons of the Court, when duly issued by means of a’ little piece of blue paper, was exemplified;, yesterday. Mr J. J. Patterson, of Manutahi, was charged with leaving a dray on the roadside, between that place and Hawera, and! after hearing the evidence of the Constable/ his Worship was about to pass . over the offence lightly, when it came out that on being served with the summons, Mr Patterson said he would not attend at Court. This was sufficient for the R.M., who promptly inflicted a fine of 40s, and costs 17s. Tjie Borough Council have decided to strike an ordinary rate of Is in the £ on all rateable property within the borough. Mr J. f>. Beamish has entered into: possession of the well known Masonic Hotel and calls attention to the superior accommodation afforded by the house. We notice that Mr Barraclough holds his midwinter show of meat on to-morrow and Friday, and invites the public to have a look at the meat producing capabilities of the district as displayed in his shop. The Clerk of the Borough Council has been empowered to sue for all rales and rents in arrear.

i The-rEnglish mail Jias been carried on to 'Wellington, and in ay, therefore, not be expected before to-morrow. In reference to this subject, a correspondent sends ns the following “ That dear old lady Taranaki, rude Boreas, and old Neptune have been again at variance at English mail time, consequently the steamer would not approach, and we have not got our letters or those remittances we fondly expected in time for the fourth. But no matter! There is a good time coming—when English_ shipa load Taranaki fungus in Taranaki'~Harboof:; when the Auckland to Wellington railway route is determined, and the line opened through. Even such things as these are possible within the present century, and those who survive will then be able to look back and say, ‘ We suffered in a good cause—that of Taranaki!’”

From the remarks of Councillors at Monday night’s meeting, it appears animals that have'the misfortune to ; be if beyond the reach of their owners,iare still anywhere but “ where the wicked cease from troubling.” Several Councillors’ slated that it had conic to their knowledge - that a number' of boys had been in the habit of sitting on the pound railings and tormenting the animals almost to madness. A more serious charge even than this was brought forward, and we think it would be well if the police had their attention drawn to the matter. The Hospital question came up for discussion at the Borough Council last night. Although it seemed to be the general impression of Councillors that it would be a pity if the institution ;-^pr£=;closed, still those present fought shy of any responsibility in the matter, and'gave it as their opinion that a Board of. management, distinct from either the County or the Borough Councils, would be the proper administrative body for the Hospital. A resolution was ultimately carried asking the County Council, to call a public meeting, when the matter in all its bearings could be considered. ; At the adjourned meeting of the Borough Council last evening, it was unanimously decided to, give the Engineer three months’ notice that his services would be no longer required, want of /funds sufficient to sustain the Engineering department being given a 8 the reason for this step. An amendment moved by Cr McCarthy, to the effect that three months salary be given to the Engineer in lieu of notice, was lost. The , Electric light was used in the House last night for the first time, A long discussion took place in the Borough. Council on Monday evening, in regard to an application by the Fire Brigade for pecuniary assistance. It was ultimately resolved to "'give'the sum of £lO to the Brigade- besides a subsidy (not to exceed £25) of 10s for. every £ subscribed by the public or Insurance Companies.